Lots of talk in the last week or so about Darby Douglas of KHOU Channel 11's morning traffic. HAIF had a post that Douglas was let go from KHOU which was followed by another related post by Katharine Shilcutt Gleave at Houstonist.

David Barron finally offers the news from Belo:

Darby Douglas, who has delivered traffic reports on KHOU (Channel 11) since 1996, is no longer with the station.
A Channel 11 spokeswoman confirmed that Douglas was no longer part of the station’s morning news team but did not elaborate. She noted that Douglas is employed by Westwood One’s Metro Traffic division and remains a Metro employee.
Douglas was replaced on Monday’s morning newscast by Metro Traffic employee Mary Kennedy. Channel 11 did not say when a permanent replacement would be named. READ THE REST

You can still read Douglas' traffic blog. I never understood the point of a traffic blog by the way.

89 comments:

Darby was one of the reasons my husband and I watch KHOU in the morning. KHOU just screwed up big time. D. Duncan and Ron Trevino moving away from the a.m. newscast made us not want to watch anymore. D.Paul and Darby were still there, so there was still hope. No more! Just means I've lost my trust in KHOU. KTRK will be our new morning news source.

I totally agree. I loved watching Darby in the morning especially when he would mention his wife on the air. This is a family man and a man who loved his wife. I admire him for that. KHOU---BELO...Making mistakes as always.I am so glad I dont buy thier stock...What a BIRD BRAIN for Managers they have over there.

David Paul is the only remaining reason to watch Channel 11 news in the morning. I almost switched to 13 news after they replaced Ron Trevino, but Darby had enough personality to keep it interesting. Now without him, it all hangs on D. Paul. Vicente and the new girl cannot carry it by themselves.

Darby was the only reason to watch Ch. 11 in the morning. Just because he is not a young woman with a giant chest and tight pants! Guess what---There are intelligent viewers that want to see adults giving the news and traffic. Hope I see him on another channel because I will not watch ch. 11 anymore. From your biggest fan-Ginger

i will now watch another station. getting rid of darby was a big mistake, getting rid of ron and deborah was a big mistake. vicente trys too hard to fit in and it does NOT work. christine is ok. the only reason i still watched was because of david and darby. now with darby gone. i'm gone. you will lose lots of viewers

Wow! I just found out (thanks to the web) Darby is not "on vacation." I agree--Darby and David Paul are the reasons I tune in. Don't care for the anchors. I don't even commute and my husband has NO traffic. But we always listened to Darby just because we love him! He is so real, natural, and really knows Houston. It was obvious he was from here (but I just found that out for sure).

Yes, I thought it was so sweet when he mentioned phone calls from his wife. (I figured the station didn't pay him much since she had to work and commute.) Why the station let him go was SO obvious! Even my naive husband when he first noticed Darby wasn't there said, "what did they do, drop Darby for a cute chick?" Give me a break! This is traffic not a beauty pagent! And by the way, we call the Channel 2 news the "Ken & Barbie Show."

All can say is WOW. I truly thought was just on vacation. But thought after 3 weeks gone something more was up and I did a search and found this.

I truly loved 11 news in the morning with him, and David and Ron and Debra when they were the anchors. But really only watched it now because of david in morning to get weather. And Darby for traffic because loved his expertise and more.

Don't know if still in houston somewhere or not but hope he latches on somewhere soon.

I found this doing a search at the KTRH radio station because knew he used reporters from there too and even Darby was at this station I think too. But for news will watch someplace else for morning. Not too keen on Vicente and Christine. Christine is ok but maybe could be paired up with someone else

Maybe Vicente had to find something else with fact no one seemed to stay with Chermin Chow on the weekends.

But still this is sad and more because the station seems to be changing a lot and more but I still watch at 5, 6, and 10. I like Greg, Lucy, and Len.

I miss Darby in the morning also. I don't even live in Houston and my drive to work is around the corner from my house, but I enjoyed Darby. Now that I know he is not with the station any longer I will not tune in as often. Might find another station to watch in the mornings.

I, too, enjoyed the team of Ron, Deborah, Darby and David. Now I don't tune in. Vicente is an idiot. Just for sport, count the number of times he stumbles during a 30 minute broadcast. He doesn't instill trust or confidence. Christine is ok but her skills are limited. David is enthusiastic and friendly without acting like a buffoon. And any of the traffic reporters they have had since Darby's departure are a pale comparison to him. I no longer watch KHOU in the morning.

Wow, i quit watching channel 2 when they were dumb enough to let Craig Roberts go..now channel 11 has let Darby Douglas go..I watched channel 11 because of Darby and David Paul..now if we can get Jennifer Reyna to channel 13...Bob...

What a mistake!!! Like so many others, I really enjoyed Darby. He and David Paul made the show. David is by far the best weather man in Houston, Darby is by far the best traffic man. What a mistake!!! Please bring him back!

If you want some unsolictied advice...Vicente Arenas does not fit in. He tries very hard but it's just not working.

Darby let go, I can't believe it, when Ron & Debra left I stayed because of Darby & David. I will find another channel to watch in the morning. They need to get rid of Vicente he can not even read and is constantly messing with his hair. Christine can not carry him, he is a joke. David Paul needs to find himself another job before the bottom falls out of their ratings.

I am very upset about Darby. I thought he was on vacation. I have been looking at channel 11 for 28 years. I was upset when you all move Ron and Debra, but I continued to look at you channel anyway. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!! THIS IS MY LAST MORNING LOOKING AT CHANNEL 11. Trust me, when others realize what really, they will not be looking at you channel anymore. Your news ratings will drop and you all did it to yourself.

Not only is he funny but Darby Douglas knows the this city like the back of his hand and can always give helpful alternate routes when needed. I also agree that the morning team chemistry on 11 is no longer like it used to be. I hate when big corporations, BELO, don't care about the people watching and or listening to their stations. It is all about money. Sorry but the new girl is pretty lame. BRING BACK DARBY!!!!

i'm with you guys....david and darby were the two reasons i watched in the morning...traffic and weather before driving into houston from galveston county...it was bad enough with that morning crew they got to replace debra and ron....but now darby's gone, david paul is all they have left on the morning show to keep me tuned in...allison on the weekends is MUCH better than that morning group they came up with....bad move belo, very bad move....are you guys just trying to see how many viewers you can lose???

Well, if KHOU bothers to check these things, I would hope they would realize they have made a huge mistake. Many Houstonians apparently LOVE Darby. We want him back. He and David Paul are the best thing going in the mornings. I watch the Morning News with them and then switch to ABC. They need to bring Darby back, but if they let David go.... I'll be watching FOX or ABC. Apparently, there is some idiot making decisions at BELO.

IM IN SHOCK, DO YOU CARE ABOUT RATINGS AND PEOPLE, OBVIOUSLY NOT!!! WE ALL LOVE DARBY DOUGLAS AND DAVID PAUL AND ALSO CHAU NGUYEN AND DR NEAL FRANK. NOW THERE IS NO REASON TO KEEP WATCHING CHANNEL 11, AFTER I SEE DAVID PAULS WEATHER RPT I WILL TURN MY CHANNEL. IM VERY ANGRY. I HOPE YOU LOSE ALL YOUR GOOD RATINGS AND GO OFF THE AIRCAROL CROSBY TX

Not letting the viewers know what is going on with Darby is wrong.I to enjoyed watching him in the morning. Now I just dont care to watch 11 KHOU at all. I also miss Debra Duncan. KHOU thinks it is time for change well the viewers should do the same CHANGE

I, too, thought Darby was on vacation. Are the powers that be over at KHOU morons?? No one is as good at traffic as Darby. I watched (and am now mad) and I don't even need to watch traffic in the morning as my commute is so short!!

what was BELO thinking? Firing Darby Douglas was the wrong thing to do! I agree that the morning show was at its best with Ron, Debra, David and Darby. I continued watching when Debra left, but when Ron was replaced, the show fell apart. I watch David's morning forecast then change channels.

Oh My Gosh! I am shocked that you let Darby go. Channel 11 has changed, first Deborah Duncan, Ron Trevino and now Darby. I feel sorry for David Paul. He is on the air with some reall BOZOS! What happen to hometown people doing the news weather and traffic. Sorry you have lost a loyal viewer.

Here's my "me too" -- I also stopped watching regularly after Vicente Fox and Christine took over, but tuned in a couple of times each morning for the weather and traffic with David and Darby. I hope for David's sake that he's getting something else lined up, because whoever's running KHOU doesn't know what they're doing.

D.D. D.Paul, D.Duncan, Ron Trevino was channel 11. You can't let well enough alone. You have a good staff but your m.o. is stir the pot. The new people make many mistakes and look scared. Those of you who make decisions need to be replaced.

I can tell you this something is going on at that station - love Darby and he was always right on the money with Traffic. Giff Neilson is leaving as well. I can tell you he still has a kid about to go into College and he would have not "retired" until the last one left the nest so to speak. KHOU - now is turning into that other station that fires or can keep good people around.

Well, you really did it this time KHOU. You already shot yourself in the foot changing the morning lineup in the past year, but to let go one of the two reasons most people even watch your channel anymore in the morning. I, like others, thought Darby was taking a long vacation or something must be wrong here. Well after three weeks I knew something was up and like others here googled "Darby Douglas" and was really shocked to find out he was let go. What in the world were you thinking? Lets see, how can we get more people to watch? ahhh "Big Breasts" sell...give me a break. Most people here have cable TV and can get that on any channel. Yep, like others I guess if Darby moves on I need to also move on to another channel. Hmmm channel 13 here I come. Oh did I mention who ever is running the show at KHOU is an idiot. That pat on the back you were giving each other for what you thought was a good idea at the time is not feeling so good about now ehhh? Idiots, oh I mean that in the nicest way. Have a great day.

Ron, Debra, now Darby. KHOU takes the cake for stupid management decisions. They took a team with a real sense of family and destroyed it. Even my teenaged son liked watching the news in the morning before they replaced 3/4 of it.

And with what did we replace it? A young guy who just seems AWKWARD and a partner who can't seem to catch her cues. "Just In"--isn't that what news is supposed to be?

WoW.... I can't believe when I found out about Darby today. I thought he was on vacation or something. My family has watched the morning show for years, especially for David Paul and Darby, to start our mornings... How can KHOU make a HUGE MISTAKE like letting him go, for no matter what reason. He they had any you knows they would get him back on their channel in the mornings.

Channel 11 had just lost me as a viewer. And no explanation???? and now Giff is retiring. I am really leaving KHOU, KTRK, here I come along with everyone that I can convince. CHannel 11 is going down fast loosing such great people. :(

Oh My God!!! I thought Darby was on vacation. I had no idea he was actually let go! I am appauled! I cannot believe Belo got rid of the entire morning crew. The other channels are so dull those people really clicked... what are you thinking? They complimented one another. I loved them in the morning they kept it interesting and made it humorous as well. No I have to go to another station or hope that Darby emerges somewhere else. You are always messing with your staff. What in the world is wrong with you...Charlie

We, the public have no say. Bring back Darby. The team you have now are constatly messing up. The traffic is explained to us faster than the traffic flows on our freeways. I only watch Channel 11 news in the morning because of David Paul. I trust him. If he goes, so will I.

Just found out today that Darby was gone. I used to love KHOU in the morning then Debra left. Okay, she got the Great Day Houston Show, I can live with that, then Ron left and they brought in Vicente and Blondie, neither really has any personality, but we still had David and Darby. Now Darby is gone, WTH?!? Now I flip it on watch the David and then flip to 26. The "new" younger group is annoying as all get out, and no, I am not that old, I am only 36 but give me a break, I don't want to see tata's instead of the traffic, I want the personality and traffic maps back. KHOU you all need to get a grip and quit removing people who are getting the job done!

Darby and David Paul are the REASONS I watch Channel 11 in the mornings. How could he have been fired? Darby was charming, funny and the by-play between he and David Paul was hilarious. I loved the way they would tease each other. I have just thought that Darby was on vacation, then realized it has been weeks since I'd seen him. This is just terrible! Darby, where are you?

Come on people, David, Darby, Ron and Debra were an amazing team. Whatever honcho is in charge of the moving replacing and ruining of this team is just ignorant. You had a great thing going and you really messed up. Offer money or whatever it takes to get them back. I only watch 11 news and it just doesnt feel right, the new team just doesnt have the chemistry they had. Whatever you do dont get rid of David Paul or Im out. BTW Norman's # is ignorant.

Darby Douglas is a class act. Bring him back. I think KHOU really underestimated his following, and it was rude to remove him and not say anything. I definitely am looking for a better morning news show.

Derby is a big loss for channel 11, my wife and I have started watching Fox, Channel 11 you made a big mistake, Ron Paul and Darby were great and the glue, the other people are poor broadcasters with zero skills.

Like everyone else, I loved the Ron, Deb, David and Darby team....was sad when Deb left and Ron moved....but held on because of Darby and David.....then they put on the two goobers for the news....and I think the girl is just as bad, if not worse than the guy. Her jokes always flooped. Now Darby is gone, my family and I are gone...sorry David! …but I can't watch nonsense.

I hope that David Paul is looking for a good place. Seems as though he will be next. You would think that the station would give an explanation as to why Darby is gone. . .even if it was a lie. I agree with most of you, I will be watching another channel in the mornings. Good luck to Darby wherever he is!

Well, it's been a while now and I must say, I STILL MISS DARBY! Darby, where are you?? I have not watched KHOU since Darby left. KTRK and KPRC have all my attention now. Don Nelson and Tom Koch are the team, always were and always will be now. I was crazy to to go KHOU in the a.m. I'm back for good now. Hope Darby is doing fine.

Darby Douglas and David Paul were like peanut butter and jelly, steak and baked potato and all other things that go together. I, like others thought maybe he was on vacation (seemed odd), and then I got really worried, I thought could he have a severe illness or something, that required him to be out for an extended time (or heaven forbid, a member of his family). Now I find out that he was "let go"? That is crazy. I found KHOU morning news around 1999, prior to that I watched KPRC. I got tired of their weather guy being all over the place, and found KHOU one morning. All I can say is please bring him back! AND I will confirm like others: If anything happens to David Paul, I am outta here. If you want to can someone, how about Sher Min Chow. She drives me nuts.

For years I looked forward to KHOU morning news and watching Ron Trevino, David Paul, and Darby Douglas. I don't know who makes your decisions at the station regarding who you let go and who you hire, but perhaps you should fire them (obviously they don't know what the public want)! Someone needs to revisit your morning news - the people you have delivering it are ALL wrong!! Like most people I talk to, and the comments I have been reading, you have lost another faithful KHOU morning news watcher. I'll be waiting to hear how you screw up a good thing with your evening news cast. I'm now watching another channel!

Okay I know I'm late on this but I just had to add my two cents. I too miss Darby Douglas!! It's true that he and David Paul made the show worth watching. I also miss Deborah Duncan and Ron Trevino. Why did you guys have to go and mess with perfection??!! :-(

This is very sad. I like so many thought Darby was on vacation. I think who ever made the decision to let Darby go, well see the ratings of theie mistake fall. I hope another channel will pick him up. I have now switched to channel 13. Pretty stupied on someone's part.

I think it is time for Channel 11 to suck up their pride and rehire Darby Douglas. Darby was someone that we could relate to. Trying to compete with another station because of Boobs is wrong. Darby had a great sense of Humor and did a great job reporting the traffic problems. People listened to him. Morning Traffic is important and people want to hear about before starting to work. They don't care about that she looks good with her big Boobs.

SORRY I DO NOT LIKE ANY OF THE MORNING WOMEN ON KHOU, CHRISTINE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING WITH HER HAIR AND THE NEW TRAFFIC GIRL FORGOT HER NAME, WITH THE DARK HAIR, WEARS HER TOPS TOOOOOOOOOOO TIGHT, HER BOOPS OR TO BIG. I DO LOVE DAVID PAUL, I WATCH HIM AND THEN TURN TO CH13 OR 26. I DO NOT LIKE ALLISSON TRIARSII, SHE ACTS OUT THE NEW WITH HER HANDS TOO MUCH AND GIVES HER OPINION TOO MUCH. I DIDNT LIKE DEBRA DUNKING EITHER, IM GLAD SHE IS GONE!!!

I really miss Darby, I wish he would get a job on another channel and take David Paul with him. They were the main reason I wathced 11. I also disagree with the one Debra Dunking is wonderful. Go to her talk show she is a Great person. Anyway I want Darby Back.

Channel 11, BELO do you read any of these comments? Let us, the viewers know why you broke up the BEST news team. D.Duncan, R.Trevino, D.Paul, & D. Douglas? Is there a reason? I've read all the comments on this sad topic. I have wanted to comment on this for a long time, and after all these months, I still agree with all these viewers, your new people haven't gotten any better. They look and sound like you just hired the bottom of the barrel! I've watched Channel 11 news for years and years but I guess ya'll don't care about your viewers anymore, or your ratings. TOO BAD, SO SAD! I've switched, any of the other news station, is better than Channel 11............... Barbara

NO Darby????? Now we simply flip to KHOU to see David Paul's weather, then flip back to Channel 2 for the rest of the local news!! With the exception of David, KHOU is just another nameless, faceless, news station with anchors and traffic people we don't recognize nor care about!

I sincerely hope that someone at KHOU is reading all these comments. Look how many viewers loved Darby and miss him. Vincente is just a dork and the girl is so annoying to look at and listen to. Thank goodness David Paul is still there but for how long? I only watch to catch Dave's report and then flip to something else. DARBY, if you're reading-you touched many lives every morning and there is no one to compare to you. Darby, you are missed by thousands. Best of luck to you.

I loved Darby and David!! I totally agree with SO many! I really enjoyed D and D, they were so entertaining... I still will watch occasionally only to see David Paul, he is REAL as was Darby... What a shame, I hope that Darby gets snatched up by someone else! I also miss Ron Trevino, WAZ UP KHOU?? Have you no taste? Do you not care about your viewers??? Get a clue!!

I guess it's time to go back to radio for my morning information/ traffic. If you are looking for "BOOBS" on your station you've already got one...the station manager. Bring Darby back and get rid of the BOOB that let him go. 88FM listener

Removing Darby Douglas is just another reason for my switching to Fox news. I too looked forward to David and Darby each morning for weather and traffic. I have been stewing about this for weeks, just had to let you know. I already watch Fox in the evening, so I guess I will have to spend my mornings with them also (can't stand those guys on NBC or ABC in the morning). Bring Darby back and I will be back. Until then, ADIOS!

Nice to hear Darby is back on 740 on the dial. Interesting how the morning news anchor takes all the credit David Paul did on the snow story and gets the award. Does ANYONE actually listen to her? She tries to steal his story by putting words in his mouth like she came up w/ the story, when it's his! I really think she is awful...AND fake. If truth be known, I think she probably was behind Darby leaving. But who knows.

Christine Haas is okay looking, but she sucks as an anchor. She needs to be replaced too. I hope Natalie Bomke from KRIV switches to KHOU to take Haas's place once she gets nixed, to be honest it's a matter of time before it happens.